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Systemic autoimmune diseases complicated with hydrocephalus: pathogenesis and management

Neurosurgical Review volume 42, pages 255–261 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Systemic autoimmune diseases (SAIDs) represent a group of syndromes involving at least two organ systems. Classical SAIDs include connective tissue diseases, vasculitis, and granulomatous diseases, many of which involve the nervous system and result in different neurological manifestations. Hydrocephalus can be a rare but lethal complication of various SAIDs, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), sarcoidosis, and primary vasculitis. However, the pathogenesis of SAIDs complicated with different types of hydrocephalus is varied and difficult to determine using the existing published data, and various manifestations and expressive forms of the conditions bring a substantial challenge to a timely clinical diagnosis and treatment. The commonly used medical management programs based on the etiology of hydrocephalus are anti-inflammatory or anti-infectious therapies, while surgical management such as ventriculoperitoneal shunts is effective most of the time. Further research should be directed toward improving our understanding of the pathogenesis of these conditions and determining the most effective method for treating this life-threatening condition.

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Author notes

  1. Hexiang Yin and Junji Wei contributed equally to this work.

Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, People’s Republic of China

    Junji Wei & Renzhi Wang

  2. Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, People’s Republic of China

    Hexiang Yin & Liying Cui

  3. Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, People’s Republic of China

    Li Wang

Authors
  1. Junji Wei
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  2. Hexiang Yin
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  3. Li Wang
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  4. Liying Cui
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  5. Renzhi Wang
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Correspondence to Junji Wei.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors. For this type of study, formal consent is not required.

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Wei, J., Yin, H., Wang, L. et al. Systemic autoimmune diseases complicated with hydrocephalus: pathogenesis and management. Neurosurg Rev 42, 255–261 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10143-017-0917-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10143-017-0917-x

Keywords

  • Hydrocephalus
  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Pathogenesis
  • Treatment